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Soaring ascents, the kind that can take an artist from obscurity to stardom in what seems to be the blink of an eye, don’t occur often, in dance music or elsewhere – those who are lucky enough to have that experience often disappear just as quickly. But there’s little chance of a quick fade for South Africa’s Palesa Desiree Shilabje, the DJ and producer known to the world as DESIREE, who in just a few short years has proved to be one of the international festival circuit’s most exciting new stars. Here, Bruce Tantum hears her story, and about how her evolution through music has been as organic as they come

Sound systems have driven the development of music in the UK, powered by hard work, passion and innovation. But preserving UK sound system culture, its knowledge and history, while also pushing it forward, is no easy task today. Ria Hylton traces its path through ska and reggae at blues dances in West Indian households, to soul, boogie, hip-hop and house in ’80s warehouses and at the Notting Hill Carnival, to nationwide tours and global popularity, and finds out how initiatives like the Sound System Futures Programme are seeking to secure its future 

A rapper, producer and head of the No Days Off brand, Knucks smashed into the UK album charts this year with his ‘Alpha Place’ project, presenting his ‘chill drill’ sound in all its evolved glory. His triumphant homecoming show at KOKO in Camden saw collaborators like Stormzy, SL, Youngs Teflon and Ragz Originale join him on stage. Here, Yemi Abiade meets the Londoner to learn how there are now no limitations on his future

After years of devotion to New York's club scene, Detroit-born Lauren Flax is more passionate than ever, with acid techno tracks to be perfected, causes to be fought, and lives to be saved through her harm reduction initiative. This month, she shares her journey with Bruce Tantum

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From blissed-out breaks, twisted bass and techno into metal-inspired d&b, trance and more, here's July 2022's list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

Bill Bernstein dedicated three years of his life to capturing the essence of the ‘70s New York disco scene. Here, Simon Doherty talks to him about some of his most iconic photographs, including images of Studio 54, Larry Levan, Odyssey Disco Club Dancefloor — made famous by Saturday Night Fever in 1977 — and more

Nookie’s ‘Gonna Be Alright’ dropped as hardcore was morphing into jungle at the beginning of the 1990s. It lit up the raves and set Nookie up for a production career with Reinforced, Metalheadz, Moving Shadow and other key labels as the decade unfolded. Ben Murphy learns its story and speaks to Nookie about how, as the ‘20s roar into action, he is charged up all over again
 

The latest and greatest DJs and producers rising to the top this month. From UK rap fusions and politically charged electronic experiments to lush vocal house and colourful bass, here’s here's March 2022's list of upcoming talent you should be keeping track of

Soul II Soul helped give Black British music and UK club sounds a truly unique identity. Collective founder Jazzie B talks about their ground-breaking debut, ‘Fairplay’, and traces his journey from London soundsystem culture to global star with Ben Osborne